When building a house or working on a renovation project…is more choice always better? Are there just too many selections available to us? sometimes I think “yes….it’s too much. Keep it simple.” one of reasons I love my Vermont life is because of its simplicity, limited selection in the grocery store, at the mall…or lack...
The first of May is widely recognized in many cultures as a day to celebrate rebirth, new possibilities and the coming of spring. A leftover European tradition of May Day Baskets left on the door knob of a friend’s home is both old fashioned and thoughtful…which hold great appeal to me personally. This frugal craft...
The Vermont state song pretty much says it for me … These green hills And silver waters Are my home They belong to me And to all her sons and daughters May they be strong And forever free Let us live to protect her beauty And look with pride On the golden dome They say home is where the heart is These green mountains Are my home These green...
Sharing the treasure! Old English bamboo, outdoor table and chairs, lamps and some other goodies. Chances are you will see all this in future room designs. Check out the portfolio section to see! [blockquote text="Sharing the treasure!" show_quote_icon="yes"][vc_separator type="transparent" position="center" up="3" down="0"] [vc_separator type="transparent" position="center" up="3" down="0"] [gallery link="none" ids="18071,18072,18073,18074,18075,18076,18077,18078,18079,18080,18081,18082,18083"]...
The last two beautiful, early summer days were spent in western Connecticut antiquing with a client. We are searching for a few select pieces for her dining room…and although the purpose of this trip was to “work”…it was WAY more pleasure than anything else. My brain stimulated by all the eye candy of gorgeous old...
Why I love chinoiserie: It fits in almost any design scheme / room / house It feels well traveled There is attention to detail in every design / object It is bold and sometimes colorful I love to create narratives with all of the little figures [blockquote text="It fits in almost any design" show_quote_icon="yes"][vc_separator type="transparent" position="center" up="3" down="0"] The fabrics and wall...
I love the color red among other things. It is a punctuation… Tradition. Saturated. Sexy. The history of languages reveals that red is the first color after black and white. (All languages have words for black and white. If a third hue exists, it's red.) [blockquote text="Tradition. Saturated. Sexy." show_quote_icon="yes"][vc_separator type="transparent" position="center" up="3" down="0"] [vc_separator type="transparent" position="center"...
Last evening we enjoyed a 4 hour game drive and watched 3 lions stalk a buffalo….we listened to the attack…in the dark. So incredible…the buffalo got away although it was all quite dramatic. Dinner last night was served in the library…candles and lanterns only, it was a bit cold so everyone was provided with a...
Quick trip to New York yesterday beating the northeastern heat wave. The day was seventy five and sunny… perfect weather for furniture shopping on the cobblestones streets of TriBeCa and Soho. Amtrak train down the Hudson, Penn Station to the NRQ train downtown. I popped out at Union Square by 9:45, in time to make...
Dorset, Vermont is a special place indeed. Waking up to the sound of the brook in my back yard, the birds chirping and the sun shining made me feel…well…pretty freakin’ awesome. Ask me in January and I may not seem so positive, however today is the kind of… "this is why I live here" kind...
This is just one small example of how a small change can make a big difference. I recently, with the help of my master upholsterer, enlivened these chairs with a beautiful tangerine mohair velvet. Please stay tuned for the before and after shots of the entire room. Just delicious! [blockquote text="a small change can make a...
Brimfield Massachusetts hosts the largest outdoor antique flea market in the country and I have just returned from a fun day of buying, browsing and inspiration. Armed with a pocket full of cash (more bargaining power), a shopping list, a tape measure and a positive attitude…the day could not be more exciting. It happens F-A-S-T….fields...
The day started like this: Wake up five thirty am Feed Bobby (dog) Feed Weens and Butter (cats) Feed chickens…names to come in later posts Pound caffeine in form of coffee Get in car and drive to NJ What a beauty of a day! Why don’t I get up earlier to admire this amazing light?! Well….only when I have to and I...
Our arrival in Cape Town was bittersweet….leaving the wildness of Kruger, which clearly touched us on many levels, was difficult and so we arrived in Cape Town tired and lackluster. We freshened up and walked out the back alley of our new home for the next few days to find another gift…in the form of...
Friends come in many ways…my friend, Marion McChesney is a gifted potter who has some incredibly creative ideas. She invited me out to her studio last Friday to view some of her latest and greatest. We chatted, I marveled at her sumptuously glazed bowls and admired a bird nest perched above the door to her...
A beautiful, early October morning. Inspiration for me to begin blogging again. I am working on a project that requires new counter tops for a kitchen and I was invited by the contractor to visit the Danby quarry and hand select the pieces we will use. Really? Me + Field Trip = Excited!!! Because this is...
